Yay, progress! One tiny scrap of progress toward a completely obvious human rights goal that, in a sane and civilized world, we wouldn't even be fucking talking about in 2013! Yay!!! (Sob.)

Illinois Republican Mark Kirk (center, with cane, approaching WonderBiden) endorsed marriage equality today in a heartfelt post on his blog. Kirk says his openness to marriage equality came about during his recovery from a 2012 stroke.

"When I climbed the Capitol steps in January, I promised myself that I would return to the Senate with an open mind and greater respect for others," Kirk wrote on his blog.

"Same-sex couples should have the right to civil marriage. Our time on this earth is limited, I know that better than most. Life comes down to who you love and who loves you back— government has no place in the middle."

Thanks, bro! I agree! Now, I hesitate to give big kudos to adult human beings who are only just now catching up on basic issues of equality, but Kirk's turnaround is heartening. Just a couple of years ago he was one of those separate-but-equal yahoos:

"I oppose gay marriage and I support civil unions. But I also don't think we should have a federal takeover of all marriage law in the United States. I think the federal government is already trying to take over too much," Kirk said.

Kirk is only the second Republican senator to back marriage equality. Here's hoping for more in the near future. Because duh, you guys.